Kenya eTA Explained: Entry Requirements Simplified
19 July 2026 10 min read
Last updated 27 July 2026 · 10 min read
Kenya replaced visas with the electronic travel authorisation (eTA) — a straightforward online form most visitors are cleared by in a few days. What the eTA is, what it costs, who’s exempt, which documents to have ready and the mistakes that delay approval.
1.eTA Essentials
tips_and_updates Quick facts
- payments Standard eTA costs US$30 and is processed in around 72 hours.
- bolt Expedited option (about US$130) — processed immediately for last-minute trips
- event_available Approval is valid for entry within 90 days and for stays of up to 90 days.
- language Apply only via the official portal — etakenya.go.ke. Third-party sites add markups.
- schedule Apply at least a week before you fly; three days is the official minimum.
2.What an eTA Actually Is
A pre-check, not a visa
In 2024 Kenya scrapped its traditional visa system and moved to an electronic travel authorisation - the same model the US and Canada use. Nearly every visitor now completes one online form before flying: passport details, a photo, travel dates, accommodation, and a yellow fever certificate where applicable. Approval arrives by email as a PDF you show at check-in and immigration.
Citizens of fellow East African Community states are exempt, and children under 16 travelling with parents are covered under family applications. Everyone else - including travellers who previously enjoyed visa-free entry - needs the eTA. Returning visitors are often more surprised than first-timers.
3.Apply smoothly
20 minutes if your documents are ready
Have these ready before you start: a passport valid at least six months beyond arrival with one blank page, a clear passport-style photo (phone photos on a plain wall will do), your flight numbers, the first accommodation's name and address, and a card for payment. Group and family applications can be lodged together, keeping a family on one reference number.
The delays we see are almost always self-inflicted: blurry document scans, a passport expiring within six months, arrival details that don't match the airline booking, or applying via a copycat agency site that adds fees and delays. Book the flight, apply in the same week through the official portal, and the eTA will be the easiest part of the trip.
explore Our safari experts say
person
Print two copies of the approval PDF and keep one saved offline on your phone. Airport Wi‑Fi and inbox searches have delayed more boarding queues than the eTA system ever has.
Niroskos operations · Arrivals Desk
5.eTA FAQs
Do children need an eTA? expand_more
Children under 16 are exempt from the fee when included on a parent's or family application - they must still be listed. Please carry birth certificates for minors as supporting documents.
What if my eTA hasn't arrived and I'm flying tomorrow? expand_more
Use the expedited option for immediate processing, and contact your operator - we escalate stuck applications through local channels daily in peak season.
Does the eTA cover Zanzibar or Tanzania add‑ons? expand_more
No - Tanzania has its own visa system. If your safari crosses the border we arrange the Tanzanian side separately; budget around US$50–100 depending on nationality.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination certificate? expand_more
Only if you arrive from - or have transited through - a yellow-fever-risk country. Direct arrivals from Europe, North America and the Gulf generally don't, but carry proof if you've been elsewhere in Africa or South America.
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